Cleveland Tri-faith Leaders Urge U.s., UN Action on Iraq, ‘piracy’

Jewish, Protestant and Catholic clergymen here have called on the U.S. State Department and the United Nations to take action to prevent bloodshed and human indignities in the Middle East such as the hangings in Iraq and the detention of two hijacked Israelis by Syria. A statement deploring these and other Mideast events was issued today over the signatures of Rabbi Alan S. Green, president of the Greater Cleveland Board of Rabbis, Rev. Donald Jacobs, executive director of the Greater Cleveland Council of Churches and Rev. John F. Wessel, director of interreligious affairs of the Catholic Diocese of Cleveland.

“As religious leaders we view with deep concern and sorrow the latest developments in the Middle East where specific acts of piracy and mass execution, coupled with inflammatory calls for ‘holy war,’ further heighten tensions,” their statement said. “We are concerned about the fire in the El Aksa mosque in Jerusalem and the use by extremists and some leaders of this regrettable incident to inflame feelings and incite the Arab nations to a “holy war’ against Israel.”